Covid-19: Empowered groups taking steps for stranded labourers

The empowered group on supplies and logistics, headed by Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation secretary Parameswaran Iyer, and the logistics committee set up last week are looking at options centred on the daily-wagers.

NEW DELHI: With lakhs of migrant labourers stranded on roads, newly formed empowered groups of government officials are working on developing specific measures for them. ET gathers that the Empowered Group on Economic and Social Welfare, chaired by Department of Economic Affairs secretary Atanu Chakraborty, has begun discussing the contours of a package, primarily for migrant labourers. As per a Covid-19 status report submitted by the Centre before the SC, the government roughly estimates that close to 5-6 lakh migrant workers are currently on the roads and travelling on foot between states amid the lockdown.

“Yes, migrants are being looked at closely. However, there are challenges as this is mostly an amorphous group unlike organised labour. We are considering various options to reach benefits and essentials to this unorganised group,” an official said.

The empowered group on supplies and logistics, headed by Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation secretary Parameswaran Iyer, and the logistics committee set up last week are looking at options centred on the daily-wagers. The group on economic and social welfare also has on its plate the implementation of the economic package announced by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman last week. ET gathers that the group is working on expeditious implementation of this.

The group on economic and social welfare also has on its plate the implementation of the economic package announced by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman last week.

ET gathers that the group is working on expeditious implementation of this.

The government last week announced a Rs 1.7 lakh crore relief package for those hit hardest by the Covid-19 lockdown. The empowered group is looking to ensure the quickest possible disbursal of the benefits. However, on the basis of the advice by the Department of Financial Services, transfer of money to the accounts of the beneficiaries will be done in a staggered fashion. This is to ensure that banks do not get overcrowded with people trying to withdraw the money.

Meanwhile, the Empowered Group on Public Grievances chaired by human resources development secretary Amit Khare has set up a five-member team to prepare a daily report on grievances and suggestions received and disposed. The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances will lay down guidelines for all central ministries for improved monitoring of grievances related to Covid-19 and help address those within three days.

The empowered group on medical equipment supplies has also come up with guidelines listing six essential features of a ventilator, identified by a technical committee of the Defence and Research Development Organisation.

The Centre is also preparing to set up a special unit chaired by a joint secretary from the health ministry and with eminent medical experts on it to answer all citizen queries with respect to Covid-19 correctly in real time, to check fake news. A web portal will be set up for this.